England

Clear legal rules outlining the use of the sperm and eggs of those who are incapacitated must remain in place to protect the vulnerable from being involved in fertility treatment without their consent, a new study says. There are strict laws in England and Wales involving the use of reproductive mat

Online trolls who deliberately share flashing images in order to harm people with epilepsy face imprisonment under a first-in-the-world law now in force in England and Wales. The measure, which has been dubbed "Zach's law", forms part of the new Online Safety Act which also criminalises cyber-flashi

Majority verdicts were introduced in part to dilute the influence of ethnic minority and working class jurors, according to new research. Undertaken by miscarriage of justice charity Appeal, the study found that the rationale for the introduction of majority verdicts in 1967, as opposed to unanimous

A homeless man who was arrested and detained by the Metropolitan Police is to receive compensation and an apology for the "inhumane" actions of the force.

Pre-recorded evidence could harm a complainant's chance of securing a conviction in rape cases, new research shows. A study led by Professor Cheryl Thomas KC at University College London found there were 20 per cent fewer rape convictions in such cases.

A retired policeman who pursued an alleged shoplifter who had avoided punishment has himself been fined. Norman Brennan, 64, said the criminal justice system was “broken” after a man he followed for two miles was arrested before being let off, while Mr Brennan was fined by the council fo

Legal battles over wills have soared in England and Wales by more than 34 per cent in five years, new figures show. Data from the Ministry of Justice show that 195 inheritance disputes went to court last year — as compared with 145 in 2017.

An apprentice digital media executive has been awarded £50,000 after she suffered victimisation and discrimination at work because she found maths "very difficult". Sophie Molyneux sued Apprentify, a firm that sources apprenticeships, after she was fired from a role at a business that trains p

Spiking will be clearly defined in English law under UK government plans to protect women and girls from violence and abuse. The forthcoming Criminal Justice Bill will put beyond doubt that spiking is illegal and will be backed with separate guidance, set in law, to provide a clear, unequivocal defi

Judges can use generative AI technology like ChatGPT to assist in producing judgments but should not use them for legal research, landmark new guidance in England and Wales sets out. The new judicial guidance on AI states: "Judges are not generally obliged to describe the research or preparatory wor

Nearly half of barristers in England and Wales have experienced or witnessed bullying, harassment and discrimination in their legal work, according to new research by the Bar Council. In the most recent survey, 44 per cent of respondents said they had experienced or observed this behaviour while wor

The growth of litigation crowdfunding could lead to 'inverse SLAPPs' which appear to funders to be in the public interest but are "simultaneously meritless as a legal matter", a new report says. The warning comes in new research published by the Legal Services Board (LSB) in England and Wales last w

A senior English judge in the family courts has been treated in hospital after he was assaulted by a man whose case he was hearing. The litigant in person, who cannot be named, has pleaded guilty to assault, criminal damage and causing intentional harassment, alarm or distress and is due to be sente

English law firm Leigh Day has launched a group legal claim against ride-hailing app FREENOW, owned by BMW Group and Mercedes-Benz Mobility, alleging unlawful treatment of its private hire drivers. The firm, which previously brought a successful claim against Uber, argues that FREENOW private hire d

An English barrister who raised his hand in a Nazi salute in court has been fined.